My least favorite port to visit would be Freeport. My least favorite to leave out of would be Tampa. One of the neatest that I visited was the island Elutera (sorry about the spelling)
I don't think I can name just one favorite port as I have many, but my least favorite would have to be Freeport, followed closely by the Falkland Islands. Nancy
Least- My first thought was Jamacia (Montego Bay since I have never docked in Ocho Rios) but then read the other posts that mentioned Freeport. And despite my loathing for Jamacia, I have to agree that Freeport tops the list. At least in Jamacia, if you can get past the constant attacks by the hair braiders, there are things to see and do. Freeport.. not so much.
Favorite- I like Grand Caymen the best. Maybe St Martin, but its been 16 years since Ihave been there and GC is fresh in my mind.
CCL Fantasy 1990 CCL Celebration 1995 CCL Victory 2005 CCL Conquest 2005 CCL Spirit June 2006 NCL Dream October 2006 RCCL Mariner OTS June 2007 CCL Freedom June 2008 CCL Holiday July 2008
my favorite is definitely grand cayman but i went on an excursion to virgin gorda (the baths) that really is the most spectacular natural wonder i have ever seen.
I know I said earlier that Freeport is the worst but guess what I agree with dsquared that Belize is just as bad as Freeport. I cannot believe cruise lines actually have included that area as a port to visit when there are so many others in the area that are nice to visit. I mean if anything spend an extra day in Jamaica or even in Cozumel would be great so you can take in more than one excursion there. I feel the same way about Freeport though just give me an extra day in Nassau so I can take in a casino show in the Bahamas.
Although I think Belize is trying harder than Freeport to appeal to cruisers, I have to agree that Belize still isn't "there".
Actually I think I'd like a cruise that spent the overnight in Cozumel or one of the other main stops and gave us another day there. The logistics would be a bear to work out though. The cruise lines would have to have a meeting of the minds along with the travel authorities from the various ports.
Remember when the cruise ships used to go to Cancun for a day and Cozumel/Play de Carmen for a day? That would be better than Belize I think. That gives you time to go to the beach areas and the Mayan areas also.
We anchored at Cancun once - on the Norwegian Sea in 1999. I remember the tender ride was around 45 minutes not counting the loading and unloading. The waters are so shallow that we had to anchor a long ways out. I recall thinking that the bus or taxi from Playa del Carmen was about as long as the tender ride was - and let me tell you that we did not like that long boat ride at night!
Actually the Holiday does a itinerary close to what you are talking about if you don't mind the ride from Calica to Playa and or Cancun.
I was just thinking that it would be a better area then Belize. When we used to go there by ship we used to go to Merida I know it was a drive but there was atleast lots to do including seeing the Mayan ruins and some really nice beaches. I am surprised that they have not better developed that area for cruiser. It used to be that a lot of the older ships visited those ports.